Apparatus for coiling wire or the like



Oct. 1, 1940. C, Q BRUESTLE 2,216,225

APPARATUS FOR COILING WIRE OR THE LIKE Original Filed Aug. l0, 1938 lNVENTOR C @L o. @Rz/55715 L E ATTOR EY Patented Oct. l, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Carl 0. Bruestle, Rahway, N. J., assignor to Elevator Supplies Company,

Incorporated,

Rahway, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Original application August 10, 1938, Serial No.

Divided and this application February 11, 1939, Serial No. 255,807

'1 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for ceiling wire or the like, and particularly to the part which effects the winding of the Wire on the drum,y this application being a division of application Serial No. 224,037, led August 10, 1938. An example of a complete Wire coiling apparatus incorporating the present invention is illustrated and described in said prior application.

The present invention provides improvements in the part of the apparatus which effects the winding of the Wire on the drum, and in particular on a vertically arranged drum, by which the number of spirals maintained on the winding-on portion of the drum is determined and controlled and by which the hug" of the spirals on the winding-on portion is controlled to maintain an amount of frictional resistance between the spirals `and the drum which, under the strong tension exerted on the wire in the Winding operation, keeps the spirals from slipping and causes the take-up of wire from the supply end or source. Such a control has been found to be highly important in attaining satisfactory operation of an apparatus upon Wires of different metals, diameters, tempers, etc.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a view in vertical section of the means for winding the wire on the drum, and so much of the general structure as Will facilitate an understanding of the operation of the device.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of a diagrammatic nature.

Fig. 3 isa detail view illustrating in vertical section the roller 62 and its associated structure.

Referring to said drawing, numeral I0 designates a stationary drum having a windingon4 portion I2, and numeral I4 a rotary part having a wire guide I5 thereon, which revolves, when the rotary part I4 is rotated, around the Winding-on portion I2 of the drum, coiling or Winding the wire in successive spirals thereon.

The drum may be supported at one end, as indicated at I1, its other end I8 being free, so that Wire coils may pass off from the drum, and be removed, as more fully explained in said application Serial No. 224,037.

The rotary part I4 is rotatably supported in a suitable frame 20. As shown the frame 2B sup ports the drum I0 and rotary part I4 in a ver- 'tical position. This is advantageous, as it simplifies the movement of the spirals from` the winding-on portion of the drum to a lower position where the spirals accumulate in a coil.

In the illustrated form Aof embodiment, the rotary part I4 comprises a frame 22 of suitable construction, turning in suitable bearings. The rotary frame advantageously comprises an axial sleeve 30, mounted in bearings 3|, 32 on the sta- 5 tionary frame 2D. An auxiliary bearing 26, which may comprise a track 28 and an encircling series of rollers 21 supported on frame 20, may be provided, if desired. Fixed on the sleeve 30 is a gear 35 through which the rotary 10 part I4 is rotated. The gear 35 may be driven by a gear or worm 31 on a shaft 38, which shaft may be driven by an electric motor (not shown).

The wire guide I5 advantageously comprises a sheave 45 turning on a pin 46 mounted on a 15 bracket 48 fastened to the frame 22 of the rotary part I4. The bracket 48 advantageously has a swivel connection to the frame 22. As here shown this may comprise a plate 5I having a pin 52 which fits in a hub 53 on the frame 22, 20 and which pin may be fastened in different positions of adjustment by suitable means as a nut 54 and a set-screw 55. The bracket 48 is also advantageously adjustable as to its angular position. This angular adjustment may be pro- 25 vided by means of a slot 51 in the bracket 48 and bolts 58 and 59 passing through the plate 5I andv bracket 48. This adjustability of thesheave 45 facilitates the running of wires of different diameters onto the sheave and from the 3f) sheave onto the Winding-on portion I2 of the drum I0 at good angles, whereby successive spirals may wind on the winding-on portion I2 of the drum between the lip I3 and the preceding spiral and crowd the preceding spirals along and 35 off the winding-on portion I2, and whereby rubbing and abrasion of the Wire may be avoided. An auxiliary roller 62 is advantageously employed as a part of the wire-guide. This auxiliary roller, as here shown, may be mounted on 4o an arm 64 fastened or forming part of the rotary frame 22. The advantage of the auxiliary roller 62 is that it enables the sheave 45 to be located closer to the axis of rotation of the rotary part I4 than would be the case without the auX- 45 iliary roller. Another advantage of the roller 62 is that by its use the diameter of the spiral of the wire may be varied. By substituting rollers of different diameter the free diameter of the spiral may be made greater or less, and the 50 vcloseness with which the spirals, due to their form, hug or engage the Winding-on portion I2, varied. The same thing may be accomplished by extending the roller 62 toward or away from the axis of rotation of the rotary part I4, as shown 55 in Fig. 3. This extension may be accomplished by mounting the roller 62 on a stud 65 which has an eccentric pin 66 which may be turned in a hole 61 in arm 64, to adjust the position of the roller 62, as just described. Means as a nut 68 and set-screw 69 may be provided for holding the pin 66 in a position of adjustment.

The wire may come to the coiling apparatus directly from a Wire drawing machine running continuously, or from a reel. In passing to the drum |0, the wire passes through the bore 14 of sleeve 30, then over a sheave 16 on the frame '22 of the rotary part, and thence to the sheave 45 of the wire guide I5. From the sheave 45, the wire passes over the auxiliary roller 62 and thence tangentially on to the winding-on portion I2 of the drum |0 as shown in Fig. 2. The wire passes around the winding-on portion I2 of the drum, in a sufficient number of spirals to provide a frictional resistance to the tension which is imparted to the wire by the revolving wire guide. The winding-on spirals of wire force those ahead of them off of 4the winding-on portion I2 of the drum, and the spirals accumulate on the part of the drum beyond the Winding-on portion |2, where coils or bundles are built up, and from whence the .coils or bundles are removed, as is fully explained in said application Serial No. 224,037.

The wire which is bundled is usually a relatively thick or heavy wire, and the rotation of the rotary part |4 which carries the wire guide I5, tensions the wire highly and this results in a strong pull of the wire on the drum |0, tending to rotate it. Strong and rm means are required to resist the tendency of the drum |0 to turn.

The drum I0 is advantageously supported by the rotary part I4, but in a manner that the drum I 0 is stationary while the rotary part I4 rotates. As here shown, the drum |0 has fastened thereto a shaft 80, which shaft 80 projects into a tubular part 82 of the rotary frame 22. Bearings 83, 84 are provided between the shaft 80 and the tubular part 82 of the frame 22, the bearings 83, 84 preferably being ball-bearings, so that the rotary frame 22 and its tubular part 82 may turn within a minimum of resistance on the shaft 80.

For sustaining the pull of the wire on the drum I0, a plurality of detents 90, 92 are provided for engaging the drum and holding it against rotation. The detents are advantageously in the form of jaws having flat faces which engage `fiat faces on the drum I8. The detents are suitably supported on the frame 20, and are arranged so as to be movable into and out of engagement with the drum, and are also spaced apart longitudinally of the drum I0 a distance suicient to accommodate the number of spirals which it is desired to build into a coil or bundle of wire, or to feed ofi at one time.

With the drum |0 arranged with its axis vertical as shown in the drawing, it is advantageous to provide means to maintain at all times a Certain or minimum number of wraps or spirals "of the wire on the Winding-on portion I2 of the drum. 'I'he number of spirals to obtain good paratus, it is important to control the number of shown, may have the form of one or more flanged rollers |30, two being here shown. These flanged rollers |30 may be mounted on arms |33, pivotally mounted on a part attached to the rotary frame 22, as for example a bracket arm |35 on the arm 64 which is attached to the said frame, and a bracket arm |31 attached to the said frame 22. Springs I 40 act to draw the flanged rollers 30 toward the winding-on portion I2 ofthe drum, and against the wire thereon. The position of the flanged rollers |30 with relation to the longitudinal axis of the drum |0 is made adjustable. To this end, the arms |33 may be mounted on a threaded pintle |45 mounted on each of the bracket arms |35, |31. By turning the pintle |45 in one directionor the other, the height of the anged roller |30 may be changed or adjusted. The number of wraps or spirals of Wire on the winding-on portion |2 of the drum, may be regulated by the height or adjustment of the flanged rollers 30.

Operation A strand of Wire from any suitable source (a wire drawing machine or from a large reel of wire) enters the coiling apparatus, is led over suitable guiding means to the sheave 45 on the revolvable wire guide |5. From the sheave 45 the wire passes to the winding-on portion |2 of the drum I0, passing around the intermediate auxiliary roller 62. In operation the rotary part I4 is rotated continuously through the worm 31 mounted on the driven shaft 38, carrying the Wire guide |5 with it, causing it to revolve in an orbit adjacent to the proper position to wrap or Wind the wire in spirals on the winding-on portion of the drum. The proper position of the spiral Winding on the portion |2 is obtained by adjusting the brackets 48 and 5| so as to raise and lower the bottom part `of the sheave 45, and swiveling it on the pivot 52,

so that wires of different diameter will wind on to the portion |2 between the preceding spiral thereon and the lip |3 in the best position to crowd the preceding spirals downwardly and nally oil? the winding-on portion I2. The position of the sheave 45, by the aforesaid adjustment, is also controlled for different sizes of wire, so that the wire runs on to the sheave 45 in line with the groove therein, and also so that the wire leaves the groove and the sheave 45 with its axis substantially in line with the mid-section of the roller |52. As the wire guide winds Wire on the winding-on portion 2 it pulls wire continuously from the source of supply, against a very considerable tension, the proper traction between the winding-on portion of the drum |0 being provided by the control of the number of spirals maintained on the winding-on portion, and the curvature imparted to the spirals as the wire passes over the sheave 52 and auxiliary roller 62 in passing on to the said winding-on portion |2. The curvature of the spirals is controlled through the sheave 45 and auxiliary roller 62, as heretofore explained, and the number of spirals or wraps of wire maintained on the Winding-on portion I2 is controlled by the adjustment of the flanged rollers |45 heretofore explained. l

As the wire is Wound on the winding-on portion |2, the successive spirals push those ahead of them. The lowermost spiral on the winding-on portion |2 is pushed or falls by gravity on to the portion of the drum. Accumulations of spirals or coils are removed from the drum I0 from time to time, without stopping the operation of the coiling apparatus, by the means and mode described in my aforesaid application, Serial No. 224,037.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for coiling Wire and the like, comprising a stationary vertical drum having a winding-on portion and a portion of reduced diameter below the winding-on portion on which spirals accumulate and are removed in bundles or coils, a rotary part and a wire-guide thereon revolvable around the winding-on portion of said drum, and means for holding the drum against the pull of the wire thereon tending to rotate it, characterized by further including means which revolve around the drum for supporting the lower one of a desired number of spirals of the wire on the winding-on portion of the drum, the arrangement being such that the lower one of said supported spirals passes beneath the supporting means as a new spiral Winds on said winding-on portion.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further including means for adjusting the position of sai-:i spiral holding means longitudinally of theaxis of said drum. v

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said spiral holding means comprises a flanged roller adjacent said winding-on portion.

4. Apparatus for coiling wire and the like, comprising a stationary drum having a winding-on portion and a portion of reduced diameter below the winding-on portion on which spirals accumulate and are removed in bundles or coils, a rotary part and a wire-guide thereon revolvable around the Winding-on portion of said drum, and means for holding the drum against the pull of wire thereon tending to rotate it, characterized by said wire guide comprising a sheave from which the wire runs o at a point adjacent said windingon portion of the drum, and an auxiliary roller over which the wire runs after leaving the aforesaid wire guide sheave and before running ont-o said winding-on portion.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a swivel connection between said sheave and said rotary part, and means for fastening said swivel connection in different positions thereof.

6. Apparatus for ceiling Wire and the like, comprising a stationary drum having a windingon portion, a rotary part and a wire-guide thereon revolvable around the winding-on portion of said drum, and means for holding the drum against the pull of the wire thereon tending to rotate it, characterized by said Wire guide comprising means for adjustably controlling the free diameter of the spiral which is formed as the wire Winds onto the said drum.

` 7. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein CARL O. BRUESTLE. 

